//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8: Trouble in the Griffon Kingdom 
// Story: Legacy of the Alicorn: Part I ~ Legend of the All Mother 
// by Philosopony 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 8
Trouble in the Griffon Kingdom

On the other side of Equestria, the Mane six made their way to the Himalay Mountains. This massive mountain range stretches across the northern and eastern boarders of Equestria acting as the last line of defense between the Equestrian valley and the outside world. The mountains stand so high that it is impossible for anyone to fly over them, that the cold winds that blow through them make it a very hard journey on anyone not properly prepared. 
Griffons stand as the largest population in this snow covered world, controlling a vast majority of the mountain range as their kingdom. Other creatures include large bears, goats, tigers and small white dragons which roam the vast white mountainsides. Twilight stood on the edge of the Spirit of Harmony eager to study these creatures that no-pony has studied before.
Viewing the side of the mountain range with a telescope she had borrowed from Pinkie, she searched around for any signs of life. The cool winds blowing off the mountain side prompted the ponies to wear cloaks and coats. Rarity’s fashionable white and blue coat stood apart from her friends. Though for all its fanciness, it was not very practical. 
“Twilight! How can you be out here is this cold?” Rarity asked, approaching her friend. She gave a dramatic sneeze as if she was catching a cold.  
“It’s not too bad. At least it’s not snowing.” Twilight continued to gaze through her looking glass, a piece of parchment and quill levitated by magic stood waiting. 
“Yet the ship is freezing!” Applejack was the only sensible one to be chipping ice from the ship. Even though they were far enough away from the mountains to not get snowed on, the wind was blowing hard enough, and cold enough to freeze the moisture in the air. The earth pony bucked the wooden planks to shatter the ice making the wood creak under the pounding. 
“Careful Applejack! If you punch a hole in the deck, then there will be no place warm to go on this yacht.” Rarity shifted her clothing around, trying to stay warm. 
“Well if you’d help me. Then maybe I wouldn’t have to hit the thick ice so hard.” Applejack pushed some of the ice she broke off over the edge of the ship. The propellers were warm enough thanks to the steam engine, though the buildup of condensed water was becoming dangerous.
“Oh you know how I am with such labors.” Rarity commented, as if the chore was beneath her, “What about Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie?” 
“RD says the cold makes her wing hurt. Ima’ thinking that’s more ta do with her being a couch potato. Pinky Pie is cooking us dinner. And…” she stopped to think, “I haven’t seen Fluttershy in a long time.”
“She’s still hiding below deck.” Twilight said un-expectantly. She made a note on her parchment.           
“Well if I don’t get help soon, either the propellers are gonna freeze or the ship will get to heavy to fly.” The orange pony looked at Rarity who sighed heavily as if it was the last thing she ever wanted to do. 
“Very well. How can I help?” The white unicorn was handed an ice pick by her friend. Together they tried to fight back the buildup of ice, but as they continued onward the winds began to pick up; fighting against their advance. Rarity was the only one who could reach the propellers with the ice pick, so she frantically kept chipping at them. As she worked on a forward one a roaring, thundering sound echoed from around the mountains. 
Through her telescope, Twilight just spotted a rare snow leopard, a creature never before studied at this range. She zoomed in on it eager to see what it was doing. Then… it vanished amongst the snow. The unicorn quickly scanned the mountainside to see where it had gone. After a moment the entire mountain became white, as if a blanket had just fallen over it. Turning to her friends she found that the deck behind her was empty with one a meter of visibility around her. The air was filled with a ghostly white powder that seemed impenetrable. It was almost tranquil, but the unnerving silence was starting to get to her.  
“Rarity? Applejack?!” Twilight called out to the frosty wonderland around her. Only the ambient creaking of the boat echoed in the emptiness. Twilight’s heart raced, beating the inside of her chest, crying for an escape. She ran around the deck trying to see if they were nearby. Running from starboard to portside, aft to stern, she could not find anypony, just more of the gentle white fog surrounding her. 
Trying to make her way back to the steering room, she found herself turned around and nearly leaped off the front of the ship. All around the ship was an eerie limbo that continued on and on. What madness could cause such a phenomenon? Twilight search the recesses of her understanding of weather patterns, but the ponies understanding of it is all based off of when the pegasus make the weather and not wild sudden occurrences. 
Twilight sat down on the deck, breathing heavily she tried to remain calm and figure out what to do. A gust of wind rushed across her face nearly knocking her back. Hoping it was Rainbow Dash, Twilight looked around. In the fog a dark figure began making its way to the ship. The purple unicorn smiled, “Oh thank goodness, I thought I was alone!”
The dark shape came closer, and got bigger and bigger, until it covered her entire view. Before she could react, the ship smashed headlong into the side of the mountain, sending the pony flying off of it. Smacking into the side of the mountainside, Twilight slid down the slick snow as wooden planks and rocks fell down with her. She screamed, trying to grab anything around her to stop from sliding, but she would catch them too late. The fog made it hard to doge the rocks and trees that appeared out of nowhere. 
Nearly avoiding a collision with a tree, Twilight found herself sliding backwards on her back, her destination before her was quickly appearing until it dropped off. Twilight dug her hooves into the rock, feeing her mittens get shredded. The speed was too great as she flew off the side of the cliff waving her hooves around wildly, hoping some invisible support would save her. The wind rushed around her as she made her way down. Her mind raced faster than ever trying to figure out what to do. Flashes of Spike working during the night, Princess Celestia sitting in the throne room… No! She cannot give up like this! Twilight composed herself and channeled a levitation spell. The ground grew closer and closer below, rushing like a mad banshee. 
She closed her eyes and felt something grab her hooves. The air around her slowed and she began moving up. The spell worked! She opened her eyes excitedly but found that her rescue was not of her own doing. Two large griffons wearing white and grey armor nearly blended into the background of the white wonderland. 
“Oh thank goodness! I thought I was done for.” Twilight sighed in relief. Griffons and ponies have always been allies as the pegasus would have friendly competitions with them. Griffon warriors would sometimes be called upon by the princess if something bad was happening in the Everfree Forest. The griffon carrying Twilight’s hind legs looked down at her. His helmet was fitted around his beak which had a metal covering.
“Twilight Sparkle. You are under arrest for trespassing in the Griffon Kingdom.” 


***{Legacy}***


The Griffon Kingdom is one of the largest realms covering over a hundred square miles across huge mountain ranges, valleys and forests. It is the largest governance in the region, second only to Equestria. Its capitol, Mogal sits on top of mount Gobi which looks across to the highest known mountain in the world: Mount Eversky. Mogal is only accessible by flying to it, as with most Griffon cities, but this city also allows aircraft which delegates from other lands would usually use to reach the high capitol. The entire city is built out of stone and carved into the side of the mountain with most of the larger buildings actually residing in the mountain. It is a place that is hard to find unless there is a guide, and the only creature who can guide is a Griffon. 
The Spirit of Harmony was docked in the Royal Mooring. Hovering there it was tied up to the mountainside at the entrance to the King’s Palace by large chains keeping it from floating away. The entire front side of the ship was caved in with much of the hull missing. The two lower decks had a thin layer of snow covering everything. Thankfully none of the engineering was too badly damaged.  
In front of the ship stood many Griffon guards, all wearing matching white and grey armor, some holding spears, other bows and arrows. In the middle of the group where the Mane Six, all of whom where shackled and awaiting judgment. 
“What the hay is going on!” Rainbow Dash cried out. Her wings were strapped to her chains to keep her from flying off. Even with her broken wing she still attempted to brake free.
“Silence!” one of the guards yelled. 
“Uh, such veil hospitality.” Rarity huffed. The six ponies looked up as the double doors leading into the mountain opened to a single Griffon strutting down a long hallway. 
“Gilda!” Dash cried happily. The pompous Griffon wore a small coat with the insignia of the Griffon Kingdom embroidered on the chest. She approached the ponies and eyed them. 
“The king wishes to see them.” Gilda announced to the guards. A dozen spears lowered as the guards forced the ponies into the mountain. 
“Gilda what’s going on?” Dash struggled to keep up with her friend who seemed to be ignoring her. The inside of the mountain held a long tall tunnel that stretched far back and sloped up at a somewhat steep angle. Hundreds of columns support the ceiling with smaller holes in the roof which allows Griffons to easily move in and out of the tunnel. The residence of the mountain looked down at the pony’s forced march through their home. 
“Gilda say something to me buddy!”  Gilda quickly turned on Dash.
“We are not buddies!” the griffon poked Dash with her sharp claw, “You are the enemy here. If I were you, I’d shove it!” They continued on in silence. The end of the tunnel let out into a large dome opening in the middle of the mountain. A large skylight high above let in enough light to keep the place illuminated. Twilight remembered reading that this used to be a layer of a great dragon before the Griffons fought him off and claimed the mountain as their home. What she did not know is why the Griffons were being so hostile to their long time allies. 
The guards forced the group up to a large crystal throne where the Griffon King sat eyeing the ponies with his hawk eyes. The king was a large Griffon whose grey and white feathers showed his age, but betrayed onlookers to the strength he still held. His long red cape and golden crown reminded the ponies of Celestia, though the king was a much more dominating figure.
A court announcer stepped forward. Holding his beak up he announced, “By the laws of the Griffon Kingdom set by the great king Alberok have found these six ponies to be trespassing in Griffon lands without permission…”
“Please you highness we are just passing through we meant…” Twilight plead. 
“Silence before the king!” the announcer yelled waving his wing in front of him, “You will speak when spoken to.”
“By your highness, we are on a mission from Princess Celestia!”
“Silence!” the announcer steamed up, his feathers becoming ruffled. The king raised his claw. The room fell silent. Alberok stood slowly, the other Griffons in the room all bowed low as he made his way forward. 
“Your Princess is quite a secretive one isn’t she?” the great griffon asked.
“What do you mean?” Twilight was confused. The last time she had seen the Griffon King he had been nice and kind to the ponies, now with daggers in his eyes it seemed there was a deep hatred that had finally come out. 
“For as long as our histories have been intertwined, never has our two races ever been in strife. Until recently I would have gladly let you pass through my kingdom unhindered in your quest. Mayhap even given you supplies. But now… now a different story is being told.”
“We Griffons have a pact with you ponies that keeps our borders safe from creatures and monsters that wish to destroy us. Now, the capitol is threatened by creatures from the depths of the earth. We have asked for aid from Celestia, and you know what she did? Nothing!” Alberok slammed his fist on the ground, “Of all the insults a Royal can give, refusing to answer a cry for help is one of the worst.”   
“Maybe she just hasn’t gotten around to it?” Applejack suggested.
“Oh you naive ponies. I thought of that… over a season ago. Now I have grown bitter at your kind. Thinking of yourselves as higher than other creatures.
“That’s not fair, we were dealing with the changelings not but a few weeks ago!” Rarity said. 
“Yeah! That was fun! I mean… dangerous.” Pinkie exclaimed. 
“Please your highness. I don’t know why Princess Celestia has refused to give you aid, but it must be for some reason. She sees all creatures of the earth as being equal to one another.” Twilight pleaded. Alberok eyed her, deciding if she was lying or not. 
“Very well. Even though I have sent many an ambassador, I will send another with note of your capture. In the meantime, for entering my lands unannounced, I must punish you in some way.” The king began to stroll back to his throne. 
“What!” the ponies cried. 
“Gilda. You know them the best. Choose who will go with Twilight and stop the demons from below.”
Gilda turned to the ponies with a smile. She walked straight up to Dash and looked her in the eyes, “Your goanna stay here.”
Rainbow Dash angrily snorted out of puff of steam. Gilda pointed at Applejack and Rarity, “You too are also staying.” The griffon eyed Pinkie Pie who was smiling broadly, “Make that three.” Gilda finished. 
“Wait you can’t send Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash cried out.
“Silence! The choices have been made. Lead them to the tunnel. If they should fail the rest of you will go in after them.
“What a brutal punishment. You could hardly call this civilized.” Rarity whispered as Twilight and Fluttershy followed Gilda out of the hall, though a dark passage to whatever fate awaited them.


***{Legacy}***


The tunnel led deep down into the heart of the great mountain where the ambiance of the outside world ceased to exist. The eerie silence of the caves made the ponies ears ring, unaccustomed to the absence of sound. Twilight used magic to give off enough light to see each other in the total darkness of the underworld. She continued on determined to continue her mission; her companion was less enthusiastic. 
“Come of Fluttershy.” the unicorn encouraged, “The faster we do this, the faster we can get going.”
“Twilight…wh..what do you think is down here?” the timid pegasus whispered. She was more or less crawling next to her friend.  
“Um… I don’t know. I’ve only read stories from the Canterlot Archives about creatures from ancient times that reside deep in the earth. Why the Griffons were digging this far down I don’t know, but let’s deal with this quickly so we can get out of here.” Twilight looked behind her to see Fluttershy cowering just outside of the light. 
“Come on Fluttershy. You once tamed a Manticor! And that Dragon! You can do anything you put your mind to.” 
“But that was outside. This is in a dark… scary cave, with no sunlight or flowers… I want to go home.” Fluttershy whimpered. Twilight sighed, but understood her friends’ plight. They were very far from home, and most of them did not even what to go on this mission in the first place. 
“I know… and I’m sorry I dragged you along on this mission. But we embody the Elements of Harmony; we are the vanguard of all of ponidum. If there is trouble we must confront it and stop it, even if it means risking our own lives.” Reaffirming her position on the matter, Twilight continued on. 
“Do you think we will make it back?” the pegasus whispered. Twilight stopped in her tracks. The Princess would never send them on a mission that was deadly… would she? Twilight turned and opened her mouth to speak. Rocks tumbled down from the ceiling, tapping on the unicorns head. Looking around, the walls were shaking as a low rumbled began to grow within the walls.
Fluttershy squeaked when a rock fell on her head, “What’s happening?” 
“The caverns becoming unstable! It’s collapsing! We need to move now!” 
“I can’t move!” Fluttershy was glued to the ground. Twilight picked her up with magic and rested her friend on her back. The rumbling grew louder and louder, more rocks crumbled from the ceiling. Twilight ran as fast as she could, the darkness of the cave began to lighten up around them. Cracks in the walls and floor began to glow orange, steam raised from the cracks as a strong smell of rotting eggs filled the air. 
Twilight tired to hold her breath as the stench became more and more potent to the point where she could barely breathe. Remembering a spell she learned, she formed two blue bubbles of magic and placed one around hers and Fluttershy’s mouth providing them with clean air. All around, the cave seemed to be collapsing in on itself. Twilight looked around frantically. There were dozens of passages that seemed to lead nowhere, or loop around on one another. Running down one that seemed the most stable, she found light and instinctively ran to it.
At the end of the cave was a cavern that could fit all of Canterlot inside with room to spare. Huge columns of black rock rose up from lava filled pits stretching into the endless darkness above. Magma poured from the walls and larger columns as the lava below billowed and bubbled with ferocious heat that burned several hundred meters away. 
“Are you seeing this?” Twilight yelled over the roaring of the lava around them. Fluttershy was too preoccupied with her hooves over her eyes to answer. As naturally awe inspiring as the cavern was, the path Twilight was on seemed to have been constructed leading over the lake of boiled rock and earth. She slowly ventured down the path, the heat of the room sweltered to an unimaginable level. The very ground felt like the surface of the sun. 
In the middle of the vast cavern, a large mountain was posed, seemingly raised out of the lava by some force. Twilight looked around, the path ended here. She so badly wanted to sit down but knew the ground would burn her flank. The weight of Fluttershy along with the heat was sapping her energy and will to continue.
“It looks like this is the end.” Twilight said kicking Flutterhsy off her back. The timid pegasus barley touched the ground before screaming and jumping up in the air.
“Oh my! Twilight, are you okay?” she asked hovering next to her friend. Twilight grumbled using what strength she had to put magical pad on her hooves, which were only able to lessen the pain by a little. 
“This is as far as we can go, and we still haven’t found the monsters or whatever.” Twilight paced around looking at all of the magma. If she was not in such a hurry this would be a great time to explore and study the underground world. Now it just feels like a death trap. “I have never wanted to be in snow so badly.”
“What do we do now?” the pegasus asked.
“I don’t know!” Twilight screamed. Her voice echoed loudly around the cavern. Somewhere far off, a bolder dislodged from the wall and collapsed in to the lake of lava. 
“Uh… Twilight…” Fluttershy whimpered. All around them the rocks seemed to be moving, but they were not normal shaped rocks. No bigger than a dog, thousands of creatures with sharp obsidian legs and bodies shakily moved towards the intruders. The two ponies stood back to back, prepared to defend themselves. The creatures bared their knife like teeth; their bodies glowed with the heat of magma boiling within them. 
“These must be the monsters! Oh why didn’t Princess Celestia tell us about the Griffons?!” Twilight prepared for the worst. There was no way they were getting out of this. A monster jumped at her, she quickly used a magical shield. Instead of blocking the creature, it exploded on the shield pouring lava all over it. The other monsters moved in for the kill.  
“I’m sorry Fluttershy!” Twilight yelled. Every adventure she had with her friends flashed before her. This adventure was turning out far worse than even Luna predicted. If ever they got out of this, Twilight promised herself that she would never let go of her friends.
A deafening roar sent a blast of wind emanating from the mountain next to them. Several dozen of the obsidian monsters exploded from the force sending magma splashing everywhere. The rest retreated back to their hiding places. Twilight opened an eye, they were safe. She gave a small chuckle, but her happiness was soon stamped out as the mountain next to them came alive. 
Red hot magma coursed through the mountain as it moved. Excess rock crumbled off of it, two arms shattered the sides as boulders were sent flying around the cavern. Large wings sprang out of the back as lava poured off of them like mist from a waterfall. A large face covered with horns formed out of the crumbling earth in the front with a slit snake like nose. The heat exhausting out of the nose and obsidian jaws was enough to warp the air around it, superheating it and causing it to flee in terror. It was hard to tell, but the monster before the two small ponies was a dragon, seemingly made of rock and lava. The creature puts its two large claws on the small ground that the ponies where standing on. It bent down low, its face bigger than ten ponies put together. Heat blasting out of the creature seemed hotter than the lava around them. 
“You are children of the All Mother.” The monster surmised. Its glowing eyes of pure heat gazed at them.
“Who... are you?” Twilight asked, though she felt she should more say ‘what are you?’
“I am Belfagor, Master of the Underworld. I have been slumbering here sense the Great Griffon King slew my weaker form eons ago. I am now one with the earth, my flesh made stone, my blood turned into liquid rock of hell fire. You said Celestia. This name I know from a past I have thought long forgotten, the first daughter of the All Mother. We have fought many battles in the past.” The monster spoke with a growling, vaporous voice. Every time he opened his mouth, the ponies could see the white hot heat emanating in the back of his throat. 
“How do you know the Princess?”
“Long ago, only we immortals roamed the earth. I was created from the might of the Great Dragon Lord Typhon. Celestia was born the child of the All Mother. We waged a mighty war that lay waste to the world of you puny mortals. The war was nearly won, but my lord was brought down by the All Mother. It seems that their legacy has gone from the world if you, the offspring of the All Mothers work no not of their existence.”
Twilight could not believe what she was hearing, “The All Mohter? Lord Typhon? I don’t understand.”
“This is beyond your comprehension mortal. Know only that I have been awakened and will continue on my quest to find my lord, and destroy all that is the creation of the All Mother. Celestia will face me once again. Now that I am fused with the powers of the under-earth she will fall before my might!” Belfagor raised his hand and brought it down on the two little ponies. The land crumbled under his mighty hand. Moving it aside, he saw that they were gone. Flying in the air nearby, the yellow pegasus was carrying the purple unicorn, “Fools! Submit to your fate!”
Fluttershy tried her hardest to stay up, but all her effort was not enough to lift her friend. Twilight waved her hooves around, “Fluttershy fly higher, were sinking!”
“I’m sorry Twilight, but you’re too heavy!” Fluttershy strained her wings as hard as she could. The tears flowing from her eyes quickly turned to steam. Twilight thought hard, then remembered the spell she used one everyone when they went to Cloudsdale. The lava got closer and closer as she concentrated on the spell. The lava licked at them as Fluttershy suddenly felt the weight she was carrying disappear. Afraid that she had dropped her friend she looked down only to see that Twilight had made herself light as a feather. 
“Come on! We can’t let him escape!” Twilight rallied her friend. Fluttershy agreed. All fear she had before was gone now. There was no way she was going to let this monster out to destroy everything she loved! They flew around as Belfagor waved his huge molten hands at them swatting at an annoying fly. 
“You will not survive mortals! Lord Typhon will return!” he yelled. Twilight charged a bolt of magical energy and fired at him. While it normally would have knocked out a normal pony, the blast barely chipped a few rocks off of Belfagor’s mighty form. 
“What are we going to do?” Fluttershy yelled dogging another swipe.
“Puny mortals. The All Mother was weak for creating creatures such as yourself. You have no chance of survival. Now die!” Belfagor opened his mouth shooting a stream of lava out at the ponies coating the walls of the cavern. Fluttershy flew as fast as she could to avoid the hot death. Twilight did her best to shield them from the heat, but dogging the attacks forever would do them no good. Belfagor grew tired of their games and began picking up islands of rock the size of three story buildings from the lake of lava. Fluttershy personified Rainbow Dash and caressed the side of one as if flew past, crashing against the ceiling with the force of a meteor causing it to shower down even smaller rocks. 
“That’s it! Fluttershy fly around the roof. We’ll collapse it on top of him!” Twilight yelled. She tempted Belfagor by shooting magical bolts at him. Angered, he threw more boulders at them, even swiping at the columns sending shards of obsidian at them. The small monsters hid amongst the shards jumping out at the ponies as they flew around. Twilight used all her magical ability to shoot them down and shield against the flying rocks. The attacks were getting closer and closer as Fluttershy began to slow down, “I can’t keep going Twilight!”
“Just hang in there!” Twilight encouraged. She fired a shot right at Belfagor’s eye. He roared in pain, causing a small earthquake to rock the cavern. Leaping out of the lava lake, Belfagor prepared to face the ponies himself. His magma wings sent liquid rock everywhere, even killing the obsidian monsters. Raising his fist for an attack, Twilight helped Flutterhsy doge it by taking the weightlessness spell off. They sunk under Belfagor’s attack as he’s fist smashed into the ceiling of the cavern. The entire roof crumbled atop the molten dragon sending him falling into the lava lake. The ponies made a brake for it. A rock pegged Fluttershy in the head knocking her out. Now in free fall with boulders falling around them, and the lake of lava getting closer with every second, Twilight concentrated as hard as she could. 
Her concentration was broken when Belfagor swiped at them. His attack missed, but the wind was enough to knock them sideways. The giant monster crashed down in the lake of lava, his head exploding as it smashed as it was crushed by the falling ceiling. Twilight could feel her mind starting to go black. She had to act fast, concentrate! They were flying to the wall, closer and closer, Fluttershy’s lifeless body swinging about like a rag doll. Twilight grabbed her, then… poof.


***{Legacy}***


“That’s it! I’m going in after them!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed after feeling the tenth earthquake in the last few minutes. She marched to the dark tunnel she saw her friends disappear into. Applejack grabbed her tail holding her back. 
“Now hold on! We can’t give up yet.” The orange pony said with a mouth full of rainbow tail. 
“It’s been over three hours…” Rarity said doubtfully. Even Pinkie Pie was looking sorrowful. Her normally puffy cotton candy hair lay flat and slick against her head. Dash looked over at Gilda standing next to the steps of the throne. The pegasus jumped on her once long time friend pinning her to the ground.
“What did you do? Send them to their death!” Dash snorted out frost from her nostrils. 
“No! I just did what I was told!” Gilda pushed Dash off of her, “Get over yourself.”
“I have heard what you and your friends can do. I’m sure they can handle themselves.” Alberok said from atop his throne. 
“We could only do that because we all worked together!” Dash exclaimed. 
“Yeah! Our friendship is what let us stop Nightmare Moon, and Discord!” Applejack stood up next to her friend, “We if ain’t all in it together, then we ain’t in it at all!” 
“So be it…” the king was about to say. A loud pop, followed by the buzzing of electricity and a surge of magical energy exploded in the throne room. Appearing suddenly was Twilight and Fluttershy who flew across from the teleportation origin landing atop Rainbow Dash and Applejack. The entire room was in awe. 
“There alive!” Pinkie Pie cheered hopping over to her friends, her hair instantly puffing back up in its usual luster. 
“Oh my! They’re hurt! Quick get some bandages!” Rarity cried. While alive, the two ponies looked much the worse for wear. Both where soot covered and smelt of burnt flesh. Fluttershy wasn’t moving, and Twilight was so exhausted that she could not even sit up. 
“Twilight what happened?” Applejack asked, holding up her friend. Dash and Rarity were attempting to revive Fluttershy. 
“It… was… big… monster… Belfagor…” Twilight huffed out in-between breaths.
“Belfagor?! The demon from the depths? Not in my lifetime did I ever expect to hear that name uttered in such a way. You faced him?” Alberok had descended his throne, and seemed concerned and amazed. Gilda stood off to the side shocked.
“He lived… deep in the mountain… Created the monsters… we stopped him…” 
“How?”
“We collapsed the ceiling of a cavern on him… Shattered him… Teleported back. All the little monsters are buried with him.”
“You did all that?” Dash said surprised. 
Twilight shook her head, “No… Fluttershy dodged all his attacks. She saved us both.” 
“I have underestimated you ponies. My apologies. If the two of you could kill the mighty Belfagor what took my ancestor years to do then you have my just respect. I will have your vessel repaired imminently and provision given for your quest.” Alberok began yelling out orders to his subordinates.
Gilda approached the ponies looking uneasy, “I guess I was wrong to. You guys are… alright.” She blushed and quickly walked away as if she was told to do something. At that moment, Fluttershy’s eyes opened to the smiling faces of her friends. She jumped up breathing heavily looking around.
“The floor is lava! Watch out!” she yelled. The others all laughed.
“It’s okay Fluttershy we made it out.” Twilight said weakened.
“You did it!” Dash jumped at her long time friend giving her a tight hug. Fluttershy blushed as everyone laughed.


***{Legacy}***


After a few days rest, The Spirit of Harmony was repaired and in brand new working order. The Griffons even added extra shielding on the hulls and better heating to prevent anything from freezing. Alberok was entirely in their dept and wished that they would come back again to celebrate the victory.
As the ponies all boarded the ship, Twilight had one burning question poking at her mind. She approached Alberok on the dock in front of the ship, “I’ve been meaning to ask you. Do you know who the Great Dragon Lord Typhon is?”
“I cannot say that I have heard that name. Why?” the king said taken aback.
“Belfagor kept saying that he was going to complete the work of his master Lord Typhon. He also said that Typhon fought someone called the All Mother who created us.”
“Strange. I have never heard of any of this. Our history is as long as you’re and I know there is no mention of any of these names. But whoever this Typhon is, I wish never to meet him.”	
“Belfagor also said that he once fought against Celestia. Did she help your ancestor fight him?”
“This I know not to be true. The Great Griffon King was alone when fighting Belfagor. If Celestia had once fought the monster, it must have been sometime in the distant past.” 
“One more thing. What do you know about the Seer of Fates.” Twilight asked. This question caused the kings eyes to widen. 
“If that is your quest Twilight Sparkle I must warn you. Many a creature have ventured across the sea in search of the Seer of Fates, very few have returned. I have heard tales that the Seer of Fates knows all that has, is, and will happen in the world. Be careful when and if you meet them. You may not like what you hear.” The king’s warning only made Twilight more uneasy, but she was determined more than ever to unravel the mystery that has been set before her.
“Thank you sire. I hope all will be well in your kingdom from now on.”
“No thank you demon slayer. Your deeds shall not go unforgotten.” The king shook Twilights hoof before she boarded the ship. The engines fired up and launched off from the dock. All the Griffons waved after it as a few guards flew along with it, helping lead the ship out of the mountains and on the right path to the sea.
When she ship was out of sight, Gilda approached Alberok, “Father, what did she ask you?” 
“A great many things I wish not to come true. Let us hope they find what they are looking for, or else we might all be in grave trouble.”    


***{Legacy of the Alicorn: Part I ~ Legend of the All Mother}***